BE LIKE THE THIRD SKULL

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

BE LIKE THE THIRD SKULL
We do meditation in the morning and evening, but during our activities and dealings with
others during the day we show petty-mindedness and selfishness. That obstructs our Sadhana and
nullifies the benefits of our meditation. Penelope, the wife of Ulysses, had many suitors during her
husband’s absence whom she never wished to marry since she was a faithful and loyal lady.
Therefore she devised a trick to deceive them and pass away time. She told her suitors that she was
preparing a fabric and, until the fabric was finished, she would not accept anyone. They agreed.
Every day she went on knitting and, at night she used to undo the work till Ulysses appeared. This is
a good example of “undoing” what had already been done.
We should not apply this sort of “undoing” to our Sadhana. Let us not add any undivine
element to whatever good we might have practised during the morning hours. If, during our actions,
we forget our essence and become harsh and dishonest and begin to criticise others—then all these
things will undo whatever Sadhana we have done in the hours of meditation. Therefore, our eternal
physical life and activity, our speech and actions, have closely to keep up and enhance the spirit of
our meditation, worship and Sadhana.
It is very essential, therefore, that we do not confine our Sadhana only to the quiet hours
inside the Puja-room, but divinise all your actions. All our deeds should express our real, inner
nature. They should all become spiritualised. This divinisation of all activities is known as Karma
Yoga.
The man who leads an ideal life, full of self-sacrifice, full of sweetness and helpfulness
alone makes his Sadhana effective and fruitful.
An aspirant must, therefore be wise. He should not contradict his Sadhana during the active
life. He should know where the pot is leaking; otherwise it will be useless to go on filling the pot.

An aspirant should also be careful, watchful, alert and penetrative. The story of the “Three
Skulls” is worth remembering.
Once a Rakshasa (demon) came to a king’s court with three skulls and frightened the king to
eat him up unless he could correctly point out which was the best skull out of the three. The king
asked three days’ time and the demon agreed. Then the king asked his court Pundits as to which of
them was the best. None could say anything since all the three resembled outwardly all alike.
One intelligent Pundit came and passed a rod through one ear of the first skull, and the rod
went straight through the other ear.
Then he made the rod pass through the second skull. In this case, the rod, inserted through
one ear, came out of the mouth.
Then the rod was made to pass through the third skull. When inserted through one ear, the
rod went right into the chest.
The court-pundit remarked that the third skull was the best.
The first skull represents that type of people who hear wisdom through one ear and, without
assimilating it, leave it through the other ear and forget about it. The second skull represents those
people who, after receiving wisdom, are anxious to teach it to others, but do not practise the wisdom
themselves. That is the second class of people.
The third skull represents the best type of aspirants, who after hearing wisdom, keep it in
their hearts, and try to practise it in their everyday life. So, I would request you all to be like the third
skull, cherishing and practising whatever you may learn from your association with the wise, the
saints and the sages. May God bless you all!